8 Things You Should Know Before Buying A Peloton Bike

I can't really remember what life was like before spin class blew up and became the most popular way to work out. I actually hate spin (hurts my body in all the wrong places), but people swear by it. Everybody knows somebody who spins. Here in New York City, where I live, there's practically a studio on every other block. Sometimes I forget that in the suburbs, where a great majority of the population lives, it's not as easy to drop by a spin class every week. That's why I was shook when I heard about the Peloton bike.

Peloton launched in 2012 with the mission to create the ultimate at-home workout. The bike itself has been a huge success, with over 150,000 sold since its release in 2014. But why is it such a big deal? I'll tell you.

1. It brings a fancy spin class right to your home.

The Peloton isn't a regular bike, it's a cool bike. No really, it is. Unlike most stationary bikes, this one has a 22" sweat-proof screen that turns your living room into one of those upscale cycling studios, like SoulCycle or Flywheel.

2. It works for literally any schedule.

Do you work from home? Leave for the office at 5:00 a.m.? Have too much to do after work to make it to a spin class? This bike is perfect for all of that. With the purchase of a Peloton bike and the monthly membership, riders have access to up to 14 live classes daily. Classes are scheduled throughout the day and are 45 minutes long. If you can't fit one of these live sessions into your schedule, there are over 11,000 on-demand workouts to choose from at literally any time of the day. If that doesn't sell you, think of this: You never have to worry about wasting money on a class you couldn't it make it to, or any expensive cancellation fees.

3. The classes are perfect for competitive people.

Even though you're riding at home alone, it feels like you're part of a group. Much like Flywheel classes, Peloton offers a leaderboard, so you can see who else is riding with you, and see how your pace matches up to the rest of the class. If you're not into competing with others, you can race yourself. The bike will show you how you're pacing against your personal best ride. How's that for motivation?

4. The instructors are good. Like, really good.

When you're selecting a class, you can use a bunch of different filters to find the perfect ride; you can sort by class length, music genre, difficulty level, and even by instructor. You'll probably have your favorites, but all 12 Peloton instructors are full of energy. If you need more convincing, just check out their Instagram accounts. With thousands of followers each, it's clear that these trainers are well-loved in the fitness community.

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5. But this bike will cost you.

Of course, there's a catch. While the avid spin class lover might save on a yearly membership to an expensive studio by purchasing this bike, it'll definitely set you back. Before tax, the bike itself costs $1,995. But there that are the other additional fees. First, there's the $250 delivery and set up fee. On top of that, riders must purchase a year-long membership in order to access all of those classes I mentioned. That will cost you $468, or $39/month. But wait! There's more! The bike doesn't come with hand weights, which many of the Peloton classes require. If you don't have a set of those, you can add them to your purchase for $25. I know this sounds like a lot, but I'm not done yet...

6. You need special shoes to ride.

Just like when you go to your favorite spin studio and they give you those special clip-in shoes to wear in class, the Peloton bike requires them too. The pedals are compatible with LOOK Delta cleats. If you buy your shoes from Peloton, that'll cost you another $125. You can wear your own sneakers instead, but the company's website recommends attaching toe cages to the pedals if you want to do that. And of course, those are sold separately.

To sum it up, if you're interested in a basic package of just the bike and shoes, you're looking at a $2,838 bill.

7. But luckily, it won't take up a lot of space.

It's definitely a major investment, but you can rest easy knowing you won't have to give up a ton of space in your home to have this thing. The bike frame measures 4 feet by 2 feet. From the top of the screen to the ground, the Peloton measures 5.5 feet tall. It's a lot smaller than other in home workout equipment, like a treadmill or elliptical machine.

8. If anything happens to your bike, you're covered.

At least for up to a year. The bike comes with a limited warranty that covers issues with the the HD touchscreen, pedals, bike components and labor. The frame of the bike is covered for 5 years.

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